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 We
are sometimes asked, "Do you believe you know all
the truth? Must each of us have perfect, absolute truth before
there can be unity?" Put like this, we must admit a vague
possibility of error on some minor point; and then the nail is
clinched. "So, there must be unity in diversity!!
Jesus
prayed for unity in truth (JOH.17:17-23). Fellowship with
God, and God-approved fellowship with one another, is in truth
(1JO.1:3-7; ROM.16:17-18, etc.). God condemned the greatest
union the world has known, for its adhesive was something other
than truth (GEN.11:1-9). Now, if our "togetherness" is
to be" of God" it must have truth as its basis.
Admitting
to something short of absolute and perfect truth does not
force the popular "unity in diversity" position upon
us. This is a philosophy that chooses a "level" of
imperfectness, and finds satisfaction there. "Peace"
"love" "unity" — all with humanistic
connotations and limitations — lull the disciples into a
"sweet" complacency. The urgency to learn truth,
concern for those in error (on points outside the chosen
"level" of
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imperfectness) and any striving,
pressing, or seeking for truth that might upset this
self-satisfied Peace Corp, is frowned upon.
God
urges unity in truth upon imperfect creatures. He must have
known when He delivered His plan, that men would not get
everything straight. But He expected us to try! Paul says,
"I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing
I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ
Jesus" (PHI.3:13-14). Paul knew truth by inspiration, but
his life was still a "pressing”.
Unity
in diversity, that is satisfied with diversity, is not of God. The
"spirit" of unity thrives in love for one another, but
this is a love that shows concern for error, and brings us
together to "search the Scriptures" (ACT.17:11).
Neither love nor unity (acceptable to God) is found in agreement
to ignore error, "for the sake of peace”.
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